The Vicarage

Billy and Todd sitting in the vicarage garden. What a beautiful place! Todd brings up the obvious, something I was hoping he wouldn’t do. Something I hoped he’d let Billy bring up, if he is thinking of it and he likely is. Should Billy leave the priesthood?

Looking at the vicarage, inside and out, I can’t help feeling that Sean would make a better vicar’s spouse than Todd would. Oh, he’d say and do things he shouldn’t but he’d at least make an effort to fit in with the congregation, no matter how unsuccessful that effort may prove to be. Todd? I don’t think so.

Friday, I wondered if the complaint about Todd and Billy sharing the vicarage was because they are gay or because they are living together ‘without benefit of clergy.’ Would it be ok if they were married? Would it be equally unacceptable to the complainant if it were a man and woman living together unmarried?

Church policy

So I googled the Church of England, assuming that to be the church in question although it’s never been specified. If so, a married Vicar Billy isn’t an option. Gay clergy are required to be abstinent. Marriage or indeed living together in a same-sex relationship isn’t an option.

That’s too bad. Just in terms of this story, I was hoping for a wedding. I don’t think Billy and Todd would last five minutes together, but I enjoy a good wedding. I’d prefer it to be Billy and Sean, but I guess that ship’s sailed.

As it is, I don’t see anywhere for Billy’s story to go but for him to seriously contemplate leaving the church. And that would be a sin, not his but that of the situation that prevents him for reconciling his calling with his emotional life. (And options next week…)